Senior Associate Procurement - Grants and Contracts

Application Deadline: 14 July 2025

Department: Operations & Network Support

Location: Remote / Flexible (+/- 3hrs CET)

Description

We're looking for an innovative Senior Associate Procurement - Grants and Contracts with a unique combination of skills who wants to play a major role in tackling climate change.

As a Senior Associate Procurement - Grants and Contracts you will be an integral part of our Global Operations Team, which is responsible for efficiently managing the day-to-day operations of Meliore. You will work closely with colleagues from different operational teams including Legal, IT, and Finance as well as with the programmatic teams. The role is also expected to oversee and support staff.

The role offers the opportunity to further develop competencies in a range of operational functions needed to support a dynamic, international, and remote-first environment. The role is ideal for a candidate with demonstrated experience in a wide range of operational processes focusing on procurement, contracts and grants management, supply, cost optimization, quality and performance of service, and compliance with organisational policies and external legislative or regulatory requirements as well as systems management including contracts and grants management platforms. While the role will touch on both contracts and grants, the primary area of focus will be procurement and supply including life-cycle contract management and related operational processes. This role reports to the Operations and Development Manager.

If you have a passion for operational excellence, a solid understanding of procurement, life-cycle contract management, grants and compliance principles, and a knack for systems and database management, we would love to hear from you!



How you'll contribute

• Facilitate the planning, coordination, and execution of all stages of contracting, procurement and regranting processes;
• Assess and advise on appropriate internal procedures and ensure consistent application, alignment and compliance of processes;
• Maintain oversight of all planned, current and past contracting, procurement and regranting activities – ensuring transparency, tracking and timely delivery;
• Lead the review and finalisation of contracts and grants documentation, including alignment with business needs, risk appetite and priorities;
• Contribute to the triage of contracts in collaboration with Legal, including risk assessment;
• Review and provide input on other legal agreements falling under outgoing commitments;
• Liaise with key internal stakeholders across operations and programmatic teams to understand specific operational requirements and challenges;
• Contribute to the team-wide process improvement initiatives such as optimisation of the contracting and use of systems, and improving overall quality control;
• Implement cost-saving and efficiency initiatives to achieve the best value for money without compromising quality, time needs, and compliance;
• Manage disputes and contract negotiations when needed;
• Pro-actively work to remain thoroughly knowledgeable of the functionalities of the grants and contracts management system, including any future AI-enabled tools, to be able to provide input for troubleshooting and resolving business needs / technical issues;
• Lead on due diligence checks on service providers and grantees to provide a final opinion to management;
• Work collaboratively with the other Senior Associates in the team, ensuring knowledge-sharing and ability to interchangeably support different contracts and grants portfolios, ensuring organisational effectiveness;
• Line manage staff responsible for daily operations work, including contract and grant management
• Any other duties to be assigned from time to time
  
  

Our ideal candidate has

• Proven professional experience in relevant areas such as procurement, vendor management, contract negotiation;
• Management of procurement, data analytics and reporting tools / systems, with a commitment to leveraging technology for operational efficiency including emerging AI-enabled tools;
• Knowledge of procurement principles, theories and processes;
• Negotiation skills for terms and conditions, dispute solving and risk mitigation;
• Relationship management skills to build strong partnerships with external and internal stakeholders;
• Analytical skills to analyse trends, and foster data-driven decision-making;
• Problem-solving mindset, understanding of a risk-based approach to procurement, capable of balancing process orientation with flexible, solutions oriented approaches;
• High ethical standards;
• Aptitude to manage staff collaboratively, some experience in line managing a plus;
• Agile, flexible and proactive approach, with the ability to anticipate challenges and adapt quickly in a dynamic and fast-paced environment;
• High levels of self-motivation and independence;
• Strong attention to detail, diligence and reliability;
• Strong time and priority management, good team player with a passion for excellence;
• Excellent communication skills, able to convey complex information to non-operations audiences;
• Fluency in written and spoken English, our working language; additional languages are an asset;
• Cross-functional collaboration skills to work with other internal teams;
• The disposition to work generously with colleagues in a high-trust global community of peers;
• The versatile and adaptable skills necessary to flourish in a fast-paced and wide-ranging work environment and work across time zones using tools such as Zoom, Slack and email (Google Workspace);
• A commitment to an inclusive and empowering approach to facing climate change.
  
  

Why join us?

• Be part of a remote-first, international network of professionals working on climate, energy and nature. We offer coworking access in some locations.
• Work with a bunch of dynamic, culturally diverse individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work.
• Enjoy regular opportunities to connect and collaborate with colleagues around the world.
• A full-time position with a consultant or employment contract (subject to location) for 12 months, with a possible renewal after one year.

Location

EUROPE: UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Netherlands

AFRICA: Kenya


Only candidates with the right to work in their location will be considered.